Sydney Scorpions rise to Women’s hummel F-League glory

Sydney Scorpions emerged from the shadows to register an inspirational Women’s F-League championship victory, sneaking into the finals, blowing away minor premiers Parramatta 2-1 in the semis and then blitzing Boomerangs 6-0 in the decider.
The achievement of an inaugural national title can’t be understated and the Scorpions can thank their Scrooge-like defence for taking them to the trophy, Sydney conceding a league-low 21 goals in 16 games (including five cleansheets).
Parramatta finished first by eight points (15 in front of Scorpions) and also fielded the competition’s Golden Boot in Jodie Bain (17 goals).
Round 11
Blues overpower Scorpions 
Competition leaders Parramatta Blues maintained the rage with a finely cut 3-1 victory over Sydney Scorpions at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Friday night.
The win kept Parramatta in prime position for the inaugural Women’s F-League minor premiership, while leaving fourth-placed Scorpions vulnerable to South Brisbane and Dural.
Dural smash Sutherland
Dural Warriors were too good for Sutherland Shire, winning 6-0 at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Friday night.
Dural’s victory entertained finals thoughts as they drew closer to fourth place.
Heart, Brisbane draw
Melbourne Heart and South Brisbane fought out an epic 1-1 draw at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday morning.
South Brisbane were fighting for their playoff lives and led 1-0 at the break only for Elaina Vatcky to equalise in the second half to level the scores.
Boomerangs edge Vipers
Boomerangs held off a stubborn Vic Vipers 4-3 at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday morning.
Boomerangs were cruising at 4-1 up at halftime but the Vics turned the tide and finished strongly as fulltime sounded with the Vipers a goal down.
Round 12
Scorpions scorch Sutherland
Sydney Scorpions were too good for Sutherland Shire winning 8-1 at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday morning.
Scorpions led 5-1 at the break and cruised to a comfortable seven goal victory at the final whistle to remain in finals contention.
Parramatta beat Brisbane
Parramatta Blues were made to sweat in a tight 5-3 victory over South Brisbane at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday.
South Brisbane led the competition leaders 2-1 at the changeover before the Blues engine finally kicked into gear to record a 5-3 turnaround at fulltime.
Boomerangs down Dural
Boomerangs beat Dural Warriors 4-1 at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday afternoon.
The Territorians powered to a 3-0 halftime advantage but a tighter second half kept the final score to 4-1.
Heart stop Vipers
Melbourne Heart overpowered Vic Vipers 7-3 at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday afternoon.
Stephanie Tanti scored five goals as Melbourne turned a tender 2-1 halftime edge into a comprehensive 7-3 victory.
Round 13
Blues beat Sutherland
Parramatta Blues were given a good run for their money by Sutherland at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday afternoon, winning 5-1 in the end. 
It was first versus last but you wouldn’t know it at halftime as a spirited Sutherland side trailed the Vics 2-1, Vipers powering home in the second period to win 5-1.
Boomerangs, Scorpions stalemate
Boomerangs and Sydney Scorpions battled out a 1-1 draw at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday afternoon.
A scoreless first half preceded a stalemate second as the top-four sides cancelled each other out 1-1 at fulltime, their second draw of the season following a 0-0 result in Canberra.
Heart defeat Dural
Melbourne Heart ran out 6-2 winners over Dural Warriors at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday evening.
Dural actually held a 2-1 upper hand at the break but couldn’t stop a second half Melbourne splurge as Heart recorded an important four-goal win.
Brisbane belt Vipers
South Brisbane shut out Vic Vipers 5-0 at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday evening.
A 2-0 first half was supported by another three unanswered second half goals as the Queenslanders kept their faint finals hopes alive.
Round 14
Warriors stamp Vipers
Dural Warriors enjoyed a 4-1 victory over Vic Vipers at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday night.
The Warriors were in front 2-0 at oranges and continued their good form in the second half to end their season on a 4-1 high.
Blues beat Boomerangs
Parramatta Blues showed their dominance with a 5-0 whitewash of Boomerangs at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday night.
With the minor premiership wrapped up Parramatta went on a field trip as they turned a 4-0 halftime benefit into a 5-0 romp and enter the finals in full flight.
Brisbane, Sutherland draw
Sutherland Shire were excellent in a 2-2 draw with South Brisbane at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday night.
Both sides were playing for pride and Sutherland grabbed a 1-0 gain at the interval only for South Brisbane to fight back in a see-sawing second half that left the final score at 2-2.
Heart pip Scorpions
Melbourne Heart edged out Sydney Scorpions 4-3 in a brilliant game of Futsal at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Saturday night.
The two sides were locked 1-1 at halftime and the second half excitement had everyone on the edge of their seats, Melbourne pushing their noses in front 4-3 at the final whistle.
Semi-finals
Scorpions shock Blues
Sydney Scorpions showed scant regard for Parramatta Blues resounding minor premiership success with a gritty 2-1 victory in their semi-final at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Sunday morning.
Despite the Blues beating Scorpions twice this season, competition high scorer Jodie Bain’s sole first half goal for Parramatta was outnumbered by responses from Sydney duo Laura Donnelly and Xanthe Dumbrell as Scorpions marched into the grand final.
Boomerangs break Heart
Boomerangs outlasted Melbourne Heart 2-1 in an exciting semi-final at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The two sides traded victories throughout winter  but Maddy Whittall and Nikola Orgill strikes cancelled out Seyma Erenli’s goal for Heart to turn an edgy 1-0 halftime advantage into a 2-1 win that advanced Boomerangs to a grand final encounter versus Scorpions.
Grand Final
Scorpions smash Boomerangs
A first half goalscoring blitz lifted Sydney Scorpions to a cosy 6-0 victory over Boomerangs in the Women’s F-League grand final at Dural Sport and Leisure Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Two tight regular round draws (0-0 and 1-1) were tossed aside as Scorpions blasted out of the blocks with Sarah Roger’s first-minute goal quickly added to by Doris Osman, Xanthe Dumbrell (twice) and Sarah Yatim as Sydney led 5-0 at halftime.
Boomerangs defended gallantly as they went to a fifth man press but a late Zoeie Redman put the icing on a 6-0 Scorpions shutout.
Sydney coach Erkin Osman was delighted for his girls and hoped the competition had a bright future.
“I think we really took Boomerangs by surprise with the way we started and they just couldn’t get back into it,” he said. “We only had two subs but the girls really lifted and saved their best two games for the finals – they just never backed down.”
“It’s good for the girls to be involved at the highest level but being in the middle of the outdoor season makes it hard on players to be available; but it was a really good competition and great to see the girls achieve something special.
“I’d like to congratulate the girls and thank everyone who’s contributed to the whole season, full credit to everyone… I’m just very proud of them all.”
Boomerangs coach Kristian Collins congratulated Vipers on their win and applauded his side’s efforts.
“I’m hugely proud of the girls and what they’ve achieved,” he said. “They’re a very young team and we just couldn’t recover after the Scorpions strong start. It wasn’t our day but all credit to Scorpions, they played very well.”
“The F-League is certainly a fantastic opportunity to play against the best players in Australia. Some of our girls haven’t played a lot of Futsal so this is an incredible experience for them. They’ve grown immensely over the last four months and I’m thrilled the girls see Futsal and the F-League as a valuable opportunity.”
Round 11
Parramatta Blues 3 (Jodie Bain x3) Sydney Scorpions 1 (Sarah Yatim)
Dural Warriors 6 (Demelza Howard x2, Natalie Spirovski x2, Sheridan Kuiper, Kathryn Mladineo) Sutherland Shire 0
Melbourne Heart 1 (Elaina Vatcky) South Brisbane 1 (Ashleigh Bucknall)
Boomerangs 4 (Ashleigh Palombi, Phoebe Worth, Rebecca Watts, Nikola Orgill) Vic Vipers 3 (Letizia Sammut x2, Tina Benoit)
Round 12
Sydney Scorpions 8 (Ceyda Cambaz x3, Sarah Yatim x3, Doris Osman, Zoeie Redman) Sutherland Shire 1 (Megan Embleton)
Parramatta Blues 5 (Jodie Bain x3, Renee Tomkins, Sarah Semaan) South Brisbane 3 (Caroline Drummond x2, Ashleigh Bucknall)
Boomerangs 4 (Nikola Orgill, Ashleigh Palombi, Hayley Buckingham, Maddy Whittall) Dural Warriors 1 (Rachel Perrins)
Melbourne Heart 7 (Stephanie Tanti x5, Marijana Rajcic, Seyma Erenli) Vic Vipers 3 (Letizia Sammut, Katrina Smith, Michelle Duffy)
Round 13
Parramatta Blues 5 (Caitlin Jarvie x3, Jodie Bain, Stephanie Ascone) Sutherland Shire 1 (Megan Embleton)
Boomerangs 1 (Ruth Kravis) Sydney Scorpions 1 (Claire Walsh)
Melbourne Heart 6 (Seyma Erenli x2, Marijana Rajcic x2, Daniela Gudelj, Elaina Vatcky) Dural Warriors 2 (Tess Olsen, Kahlee Doyle)
South Brisbane 5 (Jo Burgess x2, Georgie Bridges 2, Ashleigh Bucknall) Vic Vipers 0
Round 14
Dural Warriors 4 (Rachel Perrins x2, Tess Olsen, Dominique Caridad) Vic Vipers 1 (Michelle Duffy)
Parramatta Blues 5 (Renee Tomkins x2, Justine McLaughlin, Jodie Bain, Brooke Cowie) Boomerangs 0
South Brisbane 2 (Nichole Laws, Jo Burgess) Sutherland Shire 2 (Alex Smith, Megan Embleton)
Melbourne Heart 4 (Marijana Rajcic, Alkmini Stefanidis , Sienna Fogarty, Azize Erenli) Sydney Scorpions 3 (Sarah Yatim, Zoeie Redman, Doris Osman)
Semi-finals
Sydney Scorpions 2 (Laura Donnelly, Xanthe Dumbrell) Parramatta Blues 1 (Jodie Bain)
Boomerangs 2 (Maddy Whittall, Nikola Orgill) Melbourne Heart 1 (Seyma Erenli)
Grand final
Sydney Scorpions 6 (Sarah Roger 1, Doris Osman 7, Xanthe Dumbrell 9/12, Sarah Yatim 17, Zoeie Redman 36) Boomerangs 0
-By Dan De Nardi